The Republican / Mark M. MurrayCheryl Gorski, Executive Director of the Cancer House of Hope in the Springfield office.

SPRINGFIELD – The Cancer House of Hope, with offices in Westfield and Springfield, has merged with the Center for Human Development, a Springfield-based organization that oversees about 50 “clusters” of agencies devoted to helping those in need.

Founded in 1972, the Center for Human Development is a $60 million agency with 1,500 employees.

It relies on a variety of funding sources to address such issues as mental health, homelessness, foster care, juvenile justice, family counseling and job-hunting.

“It’s wonderful to be associated with an organization that has so many community resources,” said Cheryl Gorski, executive director of Cancer House of Hope.

James R. Goodwin, executive direct of the Center for Human Development, said the House of Hope is the first agency of its kind to become part of his organization, because of its focus on cancer.

What made it so attractive, said Goodwin, was that its mission “lined up” exactly with his own organization’s commitment to a community-based approach.

The 14-year-old House of Hope provides emotional, educational and spiritual support free of charge to people with cancer and their families.

The merger of the two organizations follows a trend of nonprofit agencies joining forces to survive hard times. In July, for example, Chicopee-based Hawthorn Services, dedicated to care of the elderly, also merged with the Center for Human Development.

“I think a lot of nonprofits and for-profits in this economy find themselves struggling to keep going,” said Cheryl Gorski, executive director of House of Hope.

Gorski said she saw grants drying up, donations dwindling – and those donations that did come in getting smaller.

“We just saw decreased funding overall,” she said.

By joining CDH, said Gorski, her small organization has access to more administrative services and information technology and can enhance marketing and programming to reach more people.

“Jim Goodwin and his staff have been very supportive and helpful,” said Gorski.

In addition to providing funding, said Goodwin, “we have the infrastructure that can help them run their offices more efficiently and that will reduce costs.”

Cancer House of Hope’s location, services and staff – two full-timers, one part-timer, 12 per diem counselors – remain the same, but they are now employees of the Center for Human Development.

House of Hope will continue to do its own fund-raising, and will continue to rely on its army of volunteers.